Releasable heel reatiner

ABSTRACT

Releasable heel retainer for a ski binding that is provided on the base portion secured to the ski pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis that extends longitudinally of the ski and the housing of which carries a sole holder, where inside the housing a release is disposed that acts against spring effect and causes the release of the ski boot under excessive load, which housing is displaceably journalled and supported on the base at the end remote from the sole retainer so that there results a slide crank type connection of the housing on the base, and displaceable mounting of the housing on the base is in the form of a guide means that protects the housing against rising from the base, and where furthermore a means is provided that is releasable manually or by a foot-step that fixes the open position of the retainer, and which heel retainer includes the improvement of the arrangement serving as the crank pivotally engaging the spring and this linkage slidingly engages a curved slot of the base which slot rises upwardly in the direction toward the sole retaining element, and where the linkage of the crank secured to the housing is disposed in a known manner ahead of the linkage of the crank on the base part secured to the ski.

United States Patent 91 Unger [451 Apr. 17, 1973 154] RELEASABLE HEEL REATINER [76] Inventor: Paul Unger, Bructwiesenstr. 1 13,

8501 Altenberg, Germany [22] Filed: June 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 149,215

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 4, 1970 Germany ..P 20 27 412.8

[52] US. Cl. ..280/1l.35 T [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/l1.35 T

[56] References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 3,291,500 12/1966 Voster ..280/l1.35 T

3,317,217 5/1967 Poiger ..280/11.35 T 3,476,401 11/1969 Unger... .....280/1l.35 T 3,473,816 10/1969 Unger ..280/l1.35 T 3,608,918 9/1971 Heckl ..280/11.35 T

Primary ExaminerLe0 Fraiglia Assistant Examiner Robert R. Song AttorneyRobert H. Jacob [57} ABSTRACT Releasable heel retainer for a ski binding that is provided on the base portion secured to the ski pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis that extends longitudinally of the ski and the housing of which carries a sole holder, where inside the housing a release is disposed that acts against spring effect and causes the release of the ski boot under excessive load, which housing is displaceably journalled and supported on the base at the end remote from the sole retainer so that there results a slide crank type connection of the housing on the base, and displaceable mounting of the housing on the base is in the form of a guide means that protects the housing against rising from the base, and where furthermore a means is provided that is releasable manually or by a foot-step that fixes the open position of the retainer, and which heel retainer includes'the improvement of the arrangement serving as the crank pivotally engaging the spring and this linkage slidingly engages a curved slot of the base which slot rises upwardly in the direction toward the sole retaining element, and where the linkage of the crank secured to the housing is disposed in a known manner ahead of the linkage of the crank on the base part secured to the ski.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Fig. 4 k

RELEASABLE HEEL REATINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a releasable heel retainer for a ski binding which is disposed on the base portion fastened to the ski and arranged for pivotal movement about an axis disposed horizontally and transversely of the longitudinal extent of the ski. The housing carries a sole holder, while inside the housing a release means is provided that acts against aspring which effects release of the ski boot when excessively loaded. The housing is displaceably journalled and supported on the base member at its end that is remote from the sole retaining part, so that there results a sliding crank type linkage of the housing on the base member and the displaceable mounting of the housing on the base member is in the form of guide means which secure the housing against rising from the base portion. Furthermore, releasable means are provided that secure the open position of the retainer manually or by foot-step. Owing to the shape of the push crank type linkage the sole holding portion may move along the same path out of retaining position into release position and vice versa. Advantageously the housing remains in the open position after release, from which it may be returned at any time into retaining position by the skier. Unintentional rocking of the housing about its point of linkage on the base portion is avoided.

.There may be the shortcoming that due to the changing leverage or lever transmission that changes during the course of the release movement the retaining force effective at the sole retainer decreases continually during the release movement. This decrease takes place already at the beginning of the release movement and causes a corresponding decrease of the retaining force of the heel retainer. The same applies to known heel retainers whose release means operate with a toggle mechanism. In other known heel retainers it is necessary for the release to overcome the force of a friction lock. There exists the shortcoming that the coefficient of friction of usable work materials depends largely on weather conditions, particularly the prevailing temperature and any possible icing, and therefore fluctuates considerably. However, fluctuations of this type must be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a heel. retainer of the type described is to be constructed in such a manner that it does not possess the shortcomings explained above. Furthermore, in accordance with the invention the shock absorbing effect of the heel retainer is to be as great as possible. For this purpose a construction and arrangement is preferred that is corrosion-proof and independent of weather, not only as far as the release means are concerned but also the shock absorbing element, particularly the spring.

In accordance with the invention it is proposed that an arrangement serving as crank means is in pivotal engagement with the spring and that this connection slidingly engages a curved guide of the base portion while the curved guide rises upwardly in the direction toward the sole holder, and the linkage of the crank which is secured to the housing is disposed in a known manner ahead of the linkage of the crank at the base portion that is secured to the ski.

Designing this curved guide in this manner also changes the effective retaining force as the sole holding part moves upwardly. The curved guide may be so designed that the effective retaining force remains constant over the entire rising thrust, or at least over a part of the thrust. A design is also possible of the'type that the effective retaining force increases during the course of the release movement, i.e., it is progressive. Thus, it is possible by means of relatively simple structural changes to impart to the heel retainer the retaining force that is desired for the particular stages of the release movement.

The jointed engagement of the crank with the spring makes it possible in a structurally simple manner to provide that the spring is surrounded by the housing. Thus the spring, which is the most sensitive against corrosion, is protected substantially better than heretofore against the effect of moisture. It is also possible thereby to have a draw bar with a piston-like collar move within the housing of the spring that acts as cylinder so that the parts cooperate in the manner of a shock absorber. In this manner it is also possible to intercept relatively hard and strong riding jolts without it being necessary to provide an extremely long release path of the retainer. The unobjectionable intercepting or dampening of such jolts is, of course, desired. Otherwise there is the danger of premature release.

One advantage of the heel retainer resides in that it does not have any rapidly wearing eccentric sliding ratchets or the like; for the pivot joint connections as well as also the shock absorbing means of the shock absorber which is preferably provided are practically proof against wear. Also during release it is not necessary to overcome any frictional forces of a friction latch support. Moreover, this heel retainer can practically not be affected by weather because the spring can be enclosed and joint parts necessary for the release .are non-sensitive against the effects of weather. The invention also provides for housing of .the shock absorbing means to protect them against weather conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which i 7 FIG. I shows a heel retainer constructed in accordance with the invention partly in longitudinal section and in latched position,

FIG. 2 shows the heel retainer in accordance with FIG. 1 but in released position,

FIG. 3 is a partial section along line A-B in FIG. 1, and 1 FIGS. 4 and 5 are illustrations of parts.

THE INVENTION The heel retainer is mounted by means of its base member 1 on a ski, which is not illustrated. In the latched position it grips the rearward sole edge at the heel by means of sole retaining member 4 and thus firmly holds the ski boot.

The crank 2 is pivotally connected to the linkage point A1 of the base member 1 and is also pivotally connected at A2 with housing 3 of the heel retainer. The arrangement is such that the linkage or connecting point A2 is located between linkage point A1 and the sole retaining member 4. The linkage connections A1, A2 may be in the form of pins or rivets. The housing 3, which may also have a stepping spur 5, is slidably journalled and supported at its end remote from the sole retaining member 4 by pins or projections 6 or the like in lateral guide slots 7 of the base member that is secured to the ski. Thus there is a sliding crank type linkage and support of the housing on the base member.

The linkage points A1, A2 may be provided at the same height or level, but their levels may also differ. In that case it is advisable that the linkage point A2 is higher than linkage point Al, an arrangement which is not illustrated. This provides a push crank together with the rearward guiding slide 7, with the effect that under load, inclusive of shocks or forces acting rearwardly longitudinally of the ski, the sole retaining member 4 moves along a flat arcuate path. For this it is advisable to make the guiding slot in the fixed base not oblique but horizontal, as indicated in dashed lines at 7' in FIG. 4. In that event the pin 6 when in latching position will be proximate the forward end of the slot 7' and will move rearwardly when subjected to loads. Thus, the present invention can also be realized successfully with the special construction of such a push crank arrangement described above.

The crank 2 is furthermore pivotally connected with the spring 8 of the boot retainer. In accordance with the embodiment described a linkage 9 is provided between the crank 2 and the forward end of the housing 10 that is disposed around the spring. This linkage slides in an arcuate guiding slot 11 of the base fixed to the ski. The guiding slot 11 (see FIG. 4) rises upwardly in the direction of the sole retaining member 4. The magnitude of the retaining force effective on the retaining member 4 along the course of the raising and release movement can be varied by the shape of the slot. In accordance with a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings the guiding slot has a substantially horizontal portion 11 in which the link member 9 is guided during the initial release movement. This results in the effective retaining force being progressive until the deflection point at 12 to the next curve portion is reached. While passing through this portion, the lever arm between linkage point Al and linkage member 9 remains essentially constant, while the force of the spring increases. If on the other hand this portion 11' were permitted to rise slightly up to the point of change of direction 12, then this would result in a constant course of the retaining force effect at the retaining member 4. By rocking the crank about the point Al in clockwise direction, the spring housing 10 is pulled forward and thus the spring 8 is compressed. During the end phase of the release the linkage passes through the upwardly directed portion 11" of the guide means until it comes to rest at the upper end 9' of the curved guide slot. During this end phase of the release movement the effective retaining force decreases to zero and finally reaches a position slightly beyond dead point in which the housing is retained in the open position. This is desirable because during this phase the boot is to be released rapidly or suddenly.

In accordance with the embodiment the linkage points A1, A2 and 9 of the crank are arranged in a triangle where the retaining position of the points of linkage Al, A2 may be above the joint 9. Preferably the joint 9 is disposed in released position above the point Al in accordance with numeral 9'. Thus the release means assume the position beyond dead point. Depending on whether the linkage point 9 (or the guide slot 13) explained below is displaced more upwardly or downwardly in relation to the linkage locations A2, Al, the height of the thrust of the retainer is changed.

Spring 8 and its housing 10 move along with the rocking movement of the housing 3 of the binding about the pins 6. Inasmuch as the crank 2 is pivotally connected with the housing 3 and the base 1, it is subjected to a relative displacement with respect to the spring housing 10 as the housing 3 swings upwardly. The effective eccentricity of the curved guide 11 must be compensated. This may be achieved in that the crank 2 encompasses the pivot 9 with tolerance, for example by means ofa slot 13 (FIG. 5).

With the illustrated preferred arrangement of the joint locations Al, A2 in accordance with the embodiment, the effect is such that with the release, point A2 rocks about point Al and simultaneously rearwardly. Thereby the sole holder portion 4 is moved upwardly and rearwardly through a corresponding arc.

The construction or design of the crank and its linkages or joints may be of different form. It may be triangular as illustrated and consist of two parts 2a, 2b (FIG. 3) which are connected by way of joint rivets 14 to the lateral cheeks 15 of the base member 1. Slots provided in the cheeks 15 serve as curved guide means (1 1). The crank 2 could also be in the form of an elongated rocking member whose forwardly directed end supports the sole retainer (not illustrated). Thus the sole retaining part must not absolutely be fixed to the housing, but it can also be pivotally connected thereto. The crank member carrying it is in that event pivotally connected to the jaws 15 and to the housing. Thus the opening (or closing) of the retainer provides for an additional opening (or closing) of the angle (or mouth) defined by the retaining part 4 and the stepping spur 5.

The crank 2 may be prolonged in order to provide a manual release. In lieu thereof, one may also provide a release lever 24 that can be operated manually or with the tip of the ski pole. Lever 24 passes through an aperture 25 in the housing of the binding and is pivotally connected, for example, at the linkage point A2. If the lever 24 is pressed down, then it engages crank 2 in a manner not illustrated, rocks the crank about the linkage point A1, and this effects the release movement described above. The same effect is obtained if an upwardly directed sufficiently large force is applied by the heel of the boot against the sole retaining part 4.

Spring 8 tends to pull the pivot 9 toward the rearward end of the heel retainer, i.e., to swing the crank 2 in counterclockwise direction and thereby against the release movement about the linkage point A1. In this manner the holding member 4 is pressed with the required force against the edge of the sole of the boot. In accordance with this embodiment, spring 8 is in the form of a pressure spring. It rests at one end against the end 16 of the spring housing 10 and at the other end against a collar 17 of a draw bar 18 which extends through the spring. The drawbar 18 extends through the end surface 16 and is displaceable with respect to the spring housing.

This arrangement may also be constructed as a shock absorber where the collar 17 serves as piston and the wall of the spring housing as cylinder. The shock absorbing may either be by means of friction between cylinder and piston, or also in that there is a shock absorbing agent such as oil or grease, and the collar has openings for the passage of this agent. Inasmuch as the spring with its housing follows the rocking movement of the housing 3 about the pivot 6, the spring housing may be a structural unit and thus may be realized in a structurally simple manner. Moreover, the grease or oil serves as an additional protecting agent for the spring against corrosion. This advantage of the weather protected housing of the spring is enhanced in that its guidance in the housing is safeguarded against lateral displacement or bending.

The rearward end of the drawbar is secured in housing 3. A set screw 19 serves for this purpose, which is rotatable in the end wall 20 of housing 3 and journalled against displacement in its longitudinal direction, while its end 21 engages a corresponding thread in the drawbar. By turning the screw 19, the drawbar can be adjusted in longitudinal direction, and thus the force of compression of spring 8 may be changed.

At the spring housing or at the rearward end of the drawbar, an indicator 22 is securely mounted which indicates the setting through a viewing opening 23.

Having now described the invention with reference to the embodiment illustrated, what I desired to protect is set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. Releasable heel retaining device for a ski binding comprising a supporting base to be mounted on a ski and including an outer housing having a front end provided with a sole retainer, stationary pivot members on said base defining a horizontally disposed axis extending transversely of the longitudinal extent of the ski, said outer housing enclosing release means including spring means operative in response to excessive pressure to release a ski boot, crank means supported on said base by said stationary pivot members proximate said front end of said outer housing, a guiding slot in said base proximate said crank means securing said outer housing against rising and defining the upper limit of movement for said outer housing, a link member extending from said spring means into said guiding slot, pivot pin means extending between said crank and said outer housing, a sliding slot in said base proximate the rearward end of said device, and a guided member extending between said outer housing and said sliding slot, said pivot members, said link member and said pivot pin means being disposed on said crank means in positions defining a triangle.

2. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 14, where said guiding slot has a generally horizontal section receiving said link member during the initiation of the release movement and a section directed upwardly toward the sole retainerslidingly receiving said link member during the end phase of the release.

3. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where the upwardly directed section of said guiding slot terminates above said stationary pivot members, whereby the release means are disposed in an end position slightly beyond dead point.

4. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where said crank encompasses said link member with tolerance proximate said spring by means of a slot.

5. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, including a spring housing for said spring, said crank pivotally engaging said outer housing, and said spring housing being pivotally movable upwardly together with said outer housing.

6. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where said supporting base presents upwardly extending cheeks each provided with one said guiding slot and where said crank comprises two parts pivotally linked to said spring and guided in said slots.

7. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 5, where said spring is a pressure spring and a drawbar extends through said spring, said drawbar having a collar defining one support for said spring and being movable in said spring housing.

8. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 7, where the spring housing is adapted to receive a shock absorbing agent and apertures are provided for introducing said agent.

9. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 7, where said drawbar extends outwardly of the rearward end of said spring housing and threaded setting means are provided between said outer housing and said drawbar. 1

l0. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 9, where said drawbar has a projecting end and supports an indicator and said outer housing has a viewing aperture proximate said indicator.

ll. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, including a release lever connected to said crank.

l2. Heel retainer in accordance with claim ll, where said crank includes a release lever. 

1. Releasable heel retaining device for a ski binding comprising a supporting base to be mounted on a ski and including an outer housing having a front end provided with a sole retainer, stationary pivot members on said base defining a horizontally disposed axis extending transversely of the longitudinal extent of the ski, said outer housing enclosing release means including spring means operative in response to excessive pressure to release a ski boot, crank means supported on said base by said stationary pivot members proximate said front end of said outer housing, a guiding slot in said base proximate said crank means securing said outer housing against rising and defining the upper limit of movement for said outer housing, a link member extending from said spring means into said guiding slot, pivot pin means extending between said crank and said outer housing, a sliding slot in said base proximate the rearward end of said device, and a guided member extending between said outer housing and said sliding slot, said pivot members, said link member and said pivot pin means being disposed on said crank means in positions defining a triangle.
 2. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 14, where said guiding slot has a generally horizontal section receiving said link member during the initiation of the release movement and a section directed upwardly toward the sole retainer slidingly receiving said link member during the end phase of the release.
 3. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where the upwardly directed section of said guiding slot terminates above said stationary pivot members, whereby the release means are disposed in an end position slightly beyond dead point.
 4. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where said crank encompasses said link member with tolerance proximate said spring by means of a slot.
 5. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, including a spring housing for said spring, said crank pivotally engaging said outer housing, and said spring housing being pivotally movable upwardly together with said outer housing.
 6. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where said supporting base presents upwardly extending cheeks each provided with one said guiding slot and where said crank comprises two parts pivotally linked to said spring and guided in said slots.
 7. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 5, where said spring is a pressure spring and a drawbar extends through said spring, said drawbar having a collar defining one support for said spring and being movable in said spring housing.
 8. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 7, where the spring housing is adapted to receive a shock absorbing agent and apertures are provided for introducing said agent.
 9. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 7, where said drawbar extends outwardly of the rearward end of said spring housing and threaded setting means are provided between said outer housing and said drawbar.
 10. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 9, where said drawbar has a projecting end and supports an indicator and said outer housing has a viewing aperture proximate said iNdicator.
 11. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, including a release lever connected to said crank.
 12. Heel retainer in accordance with claim 1, where said crank includes a release lever. 